2017 outlook: Lincoln was the district's most surprising team a season ago.

Picked fourth by us, the Tigers finished second only to Wills Point in the final standings with a 4-1 league record. It blew away the remainder of district competition and lost a two-point game to Wills Point.

Twelve starters are back from a bi-district finalist team, including its two most dynamic offensive weapons. Universal athletes Domanek Wilkerson and Lamarsay Austin, both seniors now, combined for 40 touchdowns and more than 3,500 all-purpose yards in 2016.

There's not a lot of experience along the Tigers' offensive line, but skill depth goes beyond Wilkerson and Austin.

Six of Lincoln's defensive starters return. The unit held district opponents to 10.1 points per game.

Only Wills Point has more returning contributors among last season's playoff teams than Lincoln, and only by one player. But among Wills Point's losses were two NCAA Division I caliber defenders and an experienced quarterback.

2. Wills Point Tigers

Players to watch

RB Brandon Smith, Sr., 5-10, 170 (746 yards, 12 TDs)

WR/DB Trey Patterson, Sr., 5-8, 150 (121 tackles, 1 INT)

QB Tyler James, Sr., 5-10, 165 (2 starts, 536 yards, 3 TDs)

Offense: Wills Point will miss the services of seasoned quarterback Caden Burnett, but Tyler James did pretty well in his two relief starts. He surpassed 500 yards and threw for three scores in a pretty balanced offense.

The Tigers' front will need some surprises or multiple players to combine for the numbers Rodberg and Burnett hit last season to push for another district championship.

2017 outlook: Wills Point is the district's second-most experience team behind Dallas Roosevelt, and is first among the four teams that made the playoffs last year. The group was the only district team to survive beyond the first round of the postseason.

The squad has an outstanding non-district schedule to get ready for league play.

Chapel Hill, Irving Ranchview, Mineola and Tatum will be the Tigers' first opponents of the year.

3. Canton Eagles

Players to watch

WR Tanner Moore, Sr., 6-2, 190 (700 yards, 13 TDs)

LB Grant Tullos, Sr., 5-10, 190 (121 tackles)

QB Simon Miller, Jr., 6-2, 185

WR/DB McGwrie Martin, Jr., 5-10, 170

Offense: Canton finally had to say goodbye to multi-sport star Hunter Moore after a regional quarterfinal baseball playoff appearance. Football wise, Moore finished his senior year with more than 2,300 passing yards and 29 scores to 11 interceptions.

Electric receiver Zach Brown also graduated.

To pick up the slack are two brothers of former Canton stars.

Tanner Moore caught for 700 yards and 13 scores in 2016. He's projected to be the leading receiver.

Three other starters are back from a unit that scored a second-best 162 points against the district behind Lincoln's 216 points. Canton averaged about 32 points per contest.

Defense: Six players are back from a unit that was the fourth-best in district play.

Grant Tullos is a definite bright spot at linebacker. He racked up 121 tackles and gives the front, the defense's most proven suit, a real bite. Canton will rely on its good history of athleticism to fill voids in the secondary.

The Eagles had the district's fourth-best defensive unit in terms of points surrendered en route to a third-place finish. With new offensive players in critical roles, this defense could afford some improvement.

2017 outlook: Canton's signature in recent seasons has been its explosive offense. The Eagles may very well have that, but they'll have to prove it on the field.

The squad has a marginally challenging non-district schedule headlined by Brownsboro and Tyler Grace before beginning the league schedule against Ferris.

Canton needs to have a playoff berth locked up by Week 10. Its season finale is on the road at Lincoln.

Offense: Dylon Mosley is a potential district offensive MVP candidate as a 2,000-yard rusher out of Rains' Wing-T offense.

For that matter, the Wildcats look well built to execute head coach Randy Barnes' offensive style for a second consecutive season. Six starters return from last season's fourth-place and bi-district round team with good size to run the ball.

Tackle Robert Spence is the biggest lineman in the district at 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds. Big tight end Michael Stafford will compliment him.

The Wildcats had the district's third-best defense a season ago. They gave up 24 points a game to district teams.

Only Lincoln -- which has six returning defensive starters -- and Wills Point -- which has lost two NCAA Division I college players -- were better.

2017 outlook: Rains should be competitive with the top half of the district.

Even if their offense isn't heads and shoulders better than last season, the Wildcats were much more productive than either Ferris or Dallas Roosevelt's offensive units.

Expect Rains to average out with a strong defense and modest offense. That's good enough to contest for a playoff berth for a third consecutive season.

5. Ferris Yellowjackets

Coach: Brandon Layne

2016 finish: 4-6 (4A D-II bi-district finalist)

Returning starters: 4 offensive, 4 defensive

Players to watch

RB Damian Edwards, Jr., 5-10, 180 (1,106 yards, 11 TDs)

QB/DB Riley Fagan, Sr., 5-10, 175 (674 yards, 8 TDs)

2017 outlook: Ferris is the district's least experienced team with eight returning starters in total, evenly distributed across the offense and defense.

Damian Edwards eclipsed 1,000 yards last season and is back to guide an offense that averaged 19 points per game against district competition. Edwards scored most of the squad's touchdowns.

Ferris has to improve on the offensive side and will begin fall camp with a quarterback competition. Incumbent Riley Fagan is being asked to fight off junior candidate Koby Lankford, who will return to receiver if he loses the battle.

It will take some surprises for the Yellowjackets to make the playoff cut.

6. Dallas Roosevelt Mustangs

Coach: Randall Johnson

2015 finish: 2-8

Returning starters: 7 offensive, 8 defensive

Players to watch

RB/DB Damion Johnson, Sr., 6-1, 200 (743 yards, 5 TDs)

OL Roderick Franklin, Sr., 6-1, 240

2017 outlook: Dallas Roosevelt does not have much of a winning tradition and, as a result, the participation rate is very low.

But experience will be in the Mustangs' favor this year. Fifteen of 17 players from the 2016 varsity roster are returning.

Roosevelt must improve on offense even before worrying about defense. It won two non-district games by less than a full possession for its sole two wins of the season. The offense put up 22 total points against all five district opponents.